Episcopal Church of the
Incarnation
The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (B)
2
Kings 5.1-14 Psalm 30 1
Corinthians 9.24-27 Mark 1.40-45
2
Kings 5.1-14
1) The story of the healing of Naaman the Syrian is part of a longer section in 2 Kings (4.1-8.15) which comprises ten legends, in which the power of the Lord is demonstrated by Elisha the prophet.
a) This particular story is cited by Jesus at Luke 4.27, when He preaches in His home synagogue.
b) As in the prior legends in this section, the role of servants is prominent. It is the Israelite serving girl who points the Syrians to the power to be found in Israel.
i) The contrast between the captive “young girl” and the mighty Naaman could not be greater. Yet, without her he would never have been healed.
2) Notable in v. 1 is the attribution of the victory of Naaman the Syrian to the Lord. Even the acts of foreigners are the result of divine providence.
a) The all-encompassing sovereignty of Israel’s God is emphasized.
3) Elisha’s self assurance contrasts with the king’s agitation. Elisha emphasizes this superiority by dealing with Naaman through an intermediary.
a) Elisha does not act as Naaman thinks a prophet should, and the healing is almost aborted by Naaman’s misconception and pride.
i) Once again servants intervene.
ii) Naaman’s flesh is restored to be like that of a “young boy,” an echo of the first actor in the story, the “young girl” who cites the power of the Lord acting through His prophet.
Psalm
30
1) An individual hymn of thanksgiving for healing, structured as follows:
a) v. 1: hymnic introduction
b) vv. 2-3: deliverance of the psalmist from mortal illness
c) vv. 4-6: invitation to others to join in praise
d) vv. 7-11: lament by one threatened with death
e) vv. 12-13: restoration of the psalmist, with praise and thanksgiving to God
2) Note the contrast in v.1: The psalmist “will exalt” God because God has “lifted up” the psalmist.
a) The linguistic parallel is direct in Hebrew.
3) In the western Church, the psalm is traditionally used at Ascension Day.
1
Corinthians 9.24-27
1) These verses should be read together with those found in last Sunday’s lessons, in which Paul renounces his rights as an apostle.
a) In addition to subordinating himself to the needs of others, Paul defines his freedom as restricted by the need for self-discipline.
b) Conversion is but the beginning of a process which may be aborted by sin.
2) Paul states “I punish my body” (v. 27). The word used in Greek is “buffet” (as in boxing).
a) The boxing metaphor should not be pushed too far.
i) Paul is not advocating specific penitential practices!
ii) He did not consider the body evil, but to be the vehicle of commitment and the instrument of love.
(1) The body must be trained to be more responsive to the needs of others than to its own needs.
Mark
1.40-45
1) Jesus heals a leper. The first part of this story follows the usual outline of healing accounts:
a) The disease is described; Jesus heals; the healing is seen to be complete.
b) The story is then complicated by Jesus’ command that the man healed not tell anyone of the healing.
i) He is to show himself to a priest, and make a thank offering.
2) The man ignores the command to keep quiet, and Jesus is beset by those who seek healing.
3) “Leprosy” in the Bible (şāra ‘at in Hebrew, lepra in Greek) is not thought to be what we now know as Hansen’s Disease. It was a general term for any repulsive, scaly skin disease, and thus could include skin infections, favus, psoriasis, or seborrheic dermatitis. Notably, the skin lesions present also appear to have often been a form of syphilis (which used to be a much more fulminant disease than as found in the modern world).
a) The healing takes place by touch and word. For Jesus to touch one ritually unclean required great compassion.
b) Jesus dispatches the man, in order that he may fulfill the duties specified at Lev. 14 for one cured.
i) Jesus’ command that the man is not to speak may be an example of the so=called “Messianic Secret” (who Jesus is) in Mark, but may also be a practical injunction that the man is not to delay in fulfilling the duty specified in Leviticus.